Across the country on January 9th each year, citizens take the lead to show support on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.
Law Enforcement Officers of every rank and file have chosen a profession that puts their life on the line every day for their communities. They’ve answered a call to public service that is demanding and often unappreciated.
From local, state, and federal, their duties command dedication. The jobs are often thankless and take them away from their families for long hours. Rarely do they know what their days have in store for them. Often law enforcement are the only paid emergency resource a community has. More often they work in coordination with other local, state, and federal organizations to make communities safer.
On National Law Enforcement Day, we have an opportunity to thank them for their service and offer a token of respect.
Several organizations came together to create National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day in 2015 to thank officers across the country for all the daily sacrifices they make for their communities. Some of the organizations supporting the observance include:
Concerns of Police Survivors
FBI National Academy Associates
Fraternal Order of Police
International Association of Chief of Police
Officer Down Memorial Page
Law Enforcement United
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
International Conference of Police Chaplains
National Troopers Coalition
Since then the inaugural celebration, nationwide many more organizations have joined forces to support National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (L.E.A.D.) to spread encouragement and respect to these dedicated men and women.
HOW TO OBSERVE #LawEnforcementAppreciationDay
There are several ways to show your support. Send a note of thanks to your local, county or state police agency. Wear blue, turn your social media channels blue or shine a blue porch light to show your support. Find more ideas at Concerns of Police Survivors and share your support using #NationalLawEnforcementAppreciationDay to share on social media.
April 10 means today is National Erase Self-Negativity Day on the National Day Calendar. We are spending the day encouraging everyone to take steps toward erasing the influence negative self-talk has on our lives. It’s also a day where we will focus on changing this negative habit into a time of personal empowerment.
Some people think speaking negatively to themselves is a way for them to identify their downfalls or shortcomings and move forward. Even though we may believe negative self-talk is a reasonable and a harmless thing to do, this type of behavior can significantly damage self-esteem over time. We are here to tell you speaking negatively to ourselves is a habit. A bad habit. The good news is we can begin to erase the habit of negative self-talk starting today on National Erase Self-Negativity Day.
Identifying 5Cs of Negative Self-Talk
Each of us has a critical inner voice. This voice can be motivating, or it can do more harm than good. Many of us can easily become trapped in a cycle of negativity, with one critical thought leading to the next. This cycle can stop us from being able to move forward and damage our confidence. These words, if left unchecked, could potentially lead to mental health issues. It is important that we are aware of the five key types of negative self-talk.
Complaining is voicing dissatisfaction about something. Complaining is a form of negative self-talk and over time is a habit that prevents growth and progress. Complaining becomes less negative when we provide a solution or alternative to the complaint.
Criticizing is pointing out what you don’t like whether that’s about yourself, someone else or a situation. Criticism is often a negative habit that starts from within that works its way out into our environment. Rather than criticizing, try framing it as positive feedback to help yourself learn and grow.
Concern can happen when we feel we are losing control, thus creating a spiral of negative thoughts. The best way to show concern is to present ideas that counteract your negative thoughts.
Commiserating is when we gather with our friends and family to share “life” experiences, including things that are upsetting. Sharing grievances can be therapeutic, but it can also be the perfect time for negative self-talk. By simply adding a few positive remarks to any negative conversation, your mind will create a positive outlook and allow for encouraging responses from others, too.
Catastrophizing is negative self-talk that paints a picture of the worst case scenarios in our mind and makes problems seem bigger than they really are. Learning to accept situations for what they are will help you focus on finding a more constructive way to deal with the problem at hand.
Self-negativity is a habit that can be changed with work and commitment. In fact, the key to erasing self-negativity is through awareness and small habit changes. As negative thoughts arise, lighten them by reframing your mind with a positive mindset by catching, checking, and erasing it.
In 2024, Dr. Elizabeth Scott, PhD., the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), Pilot Pen, and National Day Calendar began working together to create National Erase Self-Negativity Day on April 10. This new National Day encourages everyone to take big, empowering steps toward erasing the influence negative words have on our lives. Each year on April 10, we focus on changing the negative habit of harmful words and focus more on increasing a positive outlook to live a healthy life year-round. Pilot Pen also invites you to join us as we focus on facing and erasing the damaging words and phrases that encapsulate our negative self-talk.
Founders
Dr. Elizabeth Scott, PhD., the NAMI, the nation’s leading mental health organization, and Pilot Pen are partnering to help individuals take meaningful steps toward decreasing stress and improving emotional well-being through the Erase Self-Negativity Day exercises.
An Exercise to Erase Negativity
To erase self-negativity, we need to start by identifying the primary, negative self-talk words that we play over and over again in our minds. After we recognize what those words are, we can take the necessary steps to actively embrace our personal power to face our negative self-talk and erase this damaging habit.
Find a quiet, restful location, get some paper, a FriXion pen, and follow the guided exercise below.
Join us as we celebrate National Erase Self-Negativity Day across social media using the hashtag #EraseSelfNegativityDay. Share your stories, suggestions, and support to empower and encourage one another to speak to ourselves with compassion. It’s time to begin spreading positivity, starting with yourself.
The Friday before Easter commemorates the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ in the Christian Faith and is called Good Friday.
Christians around the world recall the biblical story of Jesus’s crucifixion on this day. The day goes by other names as well, such as Holy Friday, Black Friday, and Great Friday. Though sources conflict, the phrase “Good Friday” may have been derived from “God’s Friday,” though sources conflict.
The observance is central to the Christian holy season that leads up to Easter when Jesus Christ was resurrected. While Easter has become a traditional celebration in the secular world, Good Friday has remained a holy and spiritual observance.
GOOD FRIDAY HISTORY
The celebration of Good Friday has been observed for centuries, some say since at least the 4th century.
Since Easter is based on the lunar calendar, Good Friday can happen anytime between March 20th and April 23rd depending upon when the first full moon occurs after the spring equinox. Different cultures around the globe celebrate Good Friday with varying traditions.
El Salvador – Artists create alfombra de asserin (sawdust rugs) using colored sawdust. The artwork depicts a variety of scenes or patterns in honor of Good Friday.
London – Reenacts the crucifixion as a passion play. The performance is free to the public.
Ireland – Eggs are marked with a holy cross and are then eaten on Easter Sunday.
Israel – Christians walk in Jesus’s footsteps in Jerusalem where he was crucified.
HOW TO OBSERVE GOOD FRIDAY
Churches across the country hold services.
Depending on the denomination, their services and traditions may vary.
Many spend the day in meditative reflection.
Some churches will fast, selected hymns are chosen for services and a black cloth is draped over the altar and cross.
Other churches will include specific prayers such as the Stations of the Cross.
Similar to making Easter bread, some make hot cross buns for the observance. Learn more about the biblical story of the crucifixion.
